Clamp



May 1, 1945. A. M. sAsGEN CLAMP Filed aan. 15, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

@Wifi [lll May 1*, 1945.

A. M. sAsGEN CLAMP Filed Jan. 15, 194s 2 sheets-sheet 2 lPatented Mayr1, 1945 "CLAMP l l t t Ainlthony Sasgen, Chicago, Ill. l l

This invention relates tofclamps andy more partieularlyA to!workLholding clamps: which may be used? eithei: asi awfastening means,to clamp Work to a szofpgioritiri-'giA member; or `as a vise; to' clampWork: diiseo'tliy between: thet jaws. thereof.

I Foiftlfe'niostfpart, thei clamps heretoforeknown are rath-ercumbersome and difficult tomainip-v ula'te so tiiatan operator,4 in!placing and: secuningi the ciair'np in position-` is ottimes required touseflootlil fnl some cases, #duel tothe nature of the Work te; be' heldLorthe conditions under which* Woikis beng rformed', iii is Oftendilfii'cull'tgif not impossible; for a `worlm'ian to have tWo hands freeto manipulate the claifiinfg dfeviee*- and; `asaresult, Wher tlie ol'ddamping devices Have; been used;` has beenl difficult t'o eife'otivelyuse solch clevi'oes;` 1

Thereifoie; it' is object-1 of my inve "tion to a'oiol a"`dl'aipwhieii'may be'easi'ly manipulated wi'idrooeF mandi to secure thewok` in position,

Another; oliiect of tlie invention is to' afford member and to affordaclamp'wherein the grip ti'ieeof` on a'pieoe oj worin may be easily andquickly released.

Other' and." funthei' `objects ofiy the presentrin ventionfwill be:apparent trom the following dei l serifptionf` and claims andr areillustrated-l in the "accompanying drawings which, by Way of illuslmation', shows` pveiierred' `emboizlimentsY` and the principles"thereof. arid-What ll now` Consider o beI thef best; modes in` whichl Ihave contemlated applying these prineiplesa of `tl'le inventionerjribodying` the same oi" equivaient4 principles nfiay` be used amils'tiiuctural changes! m'afy` bei made' asffdesiredby those skilled in;the a'rtz Without? depantiin'gzfrom the present invention and the`purview` of the appended In the drawings?,` i f V l Fig. 1'. isan'elevaltionllivibwsliowihg pteffersed form ofthe ewf elarx'ip in'fposition of use;

may be made la'rgeiy fro'rn relat'ivel'jyi` inexpensive i arrangement ofleves foi* manipulating" one of the clamping jaws" mid-operativeengagement with he wofky b N y iiie into opeiative engagement with4 thefor aoiooingsoio orio ofj said: jaws relative the l ome-if damping jawemoiiied in the' clamp'.

stili another oijootoi niieinvefruion is to afford', in one omoooimeniofy iiie iiiv iiiion, a novero-ia v- 11o-lib operable* leaning deviceforiaoi-gi e wim and control' of-` 'one iiioveifie'iii:` oi

'ai adosobe soiew anion siii one of. iii@ inesoriaoo foi? engagementwith o'iwoik-.f

` Foiiiief obie'ois of ioveiiooii sie i ,I offfofd o lamp wrrerein a`strong: gii'p fmayifvse had: ori

Figi. 2 is ai View on line 2f--2` iri- Figi. ipareiy in section andpartly inl` top*- piani;-`

3f is ai View'f o Iixfe: 3"-351'1-1 Fig. 1f partly in` seotioxlil an'dpartly inl plian: f

\ iig. 4 isa view ofthe form of the new ola-mp whioh isin Figs; 1, 2fami 3 boo showing 'out iiiiisfiatiiig iiiooifieu' form' of the imm fFig. ifi. iso detaiiview iiiostrotino one ooev of` the' forni' of tlinew' el'arnnwhichV is illustrated antfi'er' kInodiicationofA theinvention; Figi-1.3 is a. top plat-@view of the modifiedform of theinvention which is shoW1f1`-l in Fis. 12V show-` Other embodiments l YFig. 14 is a View on line |4-l4 in Fig. l2 partly in section and partlyin plan;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a pivoted resilient clamping jaw, whichis embodied in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 12 to 16,inelusive;

Fig. 16 is a view of the form of the new clamp which is shown in Figs.12 to 16, inclusive, but

showing the pivoted clamping jaw in released or ineffective position;

Fig. 17 is a detail view, partly in section, illustrating a modificationof a part of the form of the new clamp which is illustrated in Figs. 12to 16, inclusive; and

Fig. 18 is a view on line lll- I8 in Fig. 17 partly' I is illustrated inFigs. 1 to 6, inclusive, comprises a clamping arm which includes asupporting frame 22. The supporting frame 22 is preferably formed of apair of complementary relatively light structural elements in the formof metal stampings 23 and 24 secured together at selected spaced pointsby suitable fastening elements such as the rivets 25.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 4 the supporting frame 22 of the clamp isshaped to afford an arm which extends approximately right-angularly fromand relative to the body thereof, this arm being afforded by spacedextensions 39 and 38 of the frame 22 (Figs. 2 and 6).

As shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the arm 35-36 of the supportingframe 22 of the new clamp is formed to afford, as an integral partthereof, a generally cylindrical guide sleeve 98 in which a metalbushing 99 is arranged. A clamping screw 40 is slidably projectedthrough the metal bushing 99. The clamping screw 40 is provided, at oneend, with a handle 9| and a clamping jaw 9.2 is swivelly or otherwisemounted upon the screw 49 at the opposite end thereof.

The form of the new clamping device which is illustrated in Figs. 1 to6, inclusive, includes a second clamp arm 28 which is pivotally andadjustably mounted upon the supporting frame 22 of the clamp. As [bestshown in Fig. 3, the pivotal arm' 28 is preferably formed from a pair ofspaced and relatively light structural elements or members such as metalstampings or the like and which may be secured together in any suitablemanner as, for example, in the manner which will be described presently.

It will be noted, in this connection, that the pivotal clamp arm 28carries a clamping jaw 32 and that the clamping jaw 32 includes aportion which is arranged between and attached to the spaced structuralelements 29-39 of the pivotal arm 28 by means of a suitable fasteningelement such as the rivet 3l. This rivet 3| also serves to secure thespaced structural elements 29-30 of the pivoted clamp arm 28 together.

As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the clamping jaw 32 has a knurled grippingsurface 33 and. this knurled gripping surface 33 is provided with atransversely extending channel or recess 34, for a reason which will bedescribed hereinafter.

As shown in Fig. 3 the spaced structural elements 29-30 of thepvotedclamp arm 28 are provided with aligned openings 93. As also shown inFig. 3, the openings 93 are adapted to be registered Withthe openings 26inthe supporting frame 22, this being accomplished by inserting the bodyof the relatively narrower supporting frame 22 between the parts`29---311 of the pivoted clamp arm 28 to effect registry of a selectedone of the openings 26 with a selected pair of the openings 93. Thepivotal connection between the clamp arm 28 and the supporting frame 22of the other clamp arm 22-23--24-34-35-36 may then be effected byinserting the pin 21 through the selected and aligned openings 26-93.

The pivoted clamp arm 28 includes a manual operable operating lever.46which is also preferably formed from a pair of relatively lightstructural elements such as the metal stampings 94 and 95 which may besecured together by any suitable fastening elements such as the rivets98.

The operating lever 46 is pivotally mounted upon the body of the clamparm 28, as at 41, and includes a nose or cam portion 91 which is adaptedto have camming engagement with the body of the supporting frame 22, asshown in Fig. 4.

A threaded latch member 38 is arranged betweenthe spaced arms 35 and 36of the supporting frame 22 of the clamp arm 22 and is pivotedtherebetween and thereto, as at 31. This latch member 38 has one surfacethereof which is threaded, as at 39, for threaded engagement with theclamping screw 40. The pivoted latch member 33 is provided with anotched or serrated edge portion 45 for a reason which will be explainedhereinafter.

As best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the threaded portion 39 of the pivotedlatch member 38 projectsinto and works in a cut-out portion or opening98 which is provided in a generally cylindrical bushing 99 which isarranged in the guide sleeve 99. The bushing 99 may be secured in theguide sleeve 9D in any suitable manner, as by frictional engagement and,as shown, the screw 40 projects through and is guided in the bushing 99.

A coil spring 42 has one end portion thereof anchored, as at 43, betweenthe arms 35 and 36 of the supporting frame 22 of the clamp arm 22-23-24-35-.36 and the other end portion of this spring 42 is attached, asat 44, to the pivoted and threaded latch member 38.

The use and operation of the form of the new clamp illustrated in Figs.1 to 6, inclusive, of the drawings are as follows: The clamp arm 28 maybe disposed in a selected adjusted position relative to the supportingframe 22 and the other clamp arm 22--23-24-35-36 by inserting thesupporting frame 22 between the structural elements or parts 29 and 30of the clamp arm 28 with the openings 93 in the parts 29 and 30 inregistry with a selected one of the openings 26 in the supporting frame22, whereupon the pivot pin 21 may then be inserted through the thusregistered openings 93 and 28. In this manner the clamp arm 28 may beinitially positioned upon and relative to the supporting frame 22 foruse with work 2l of a particular size, thickness, shape, etc. I

The swivelled clamping jaw 92 may then be moved into engagement with thework 2| as follows: This is accomplished by the operator or user of thenew clamp pressing his thumb against the s'errated or notched edgeportion 45 of the pivoted and threaded latch member 38 so as to pivotthis member 38, against the action of its resetting spring 42, from itsnormal or effective and latching position, as in Fig. 1 and as in fulllines in Fig. 5, into unlatched position in which This movement of thelever 6| moves the nose or cam portion thereof into camming engagementwith the body or supporting frame of the clamp arm 48 and thereby rocksthe clamp arm 60, about its pivot 59, upon and relative to the clamp arm48, thus moving the clamping jaw 65, which is carried by the clamp arm60, into clamping engagement with the work 61.

However, in certain instances it may be desirable to clamp a round orcylindrical object between the clamping jaws 63 and |00. In suchinstances the clamping jaw 63 may be rotated upon its mounting 64 so asto bring the channeled or recessed surface 66 thereof into a positionopposite or in clamping relationship with the clamping jaw |00. A roundor cylindrical object, such as 68, may then be disposed upon thechanneled surface 61 of the clamping jaw 63 and the clamping jaw 63moved into clamping engagement by manipulation of the hand lever 6|, inthe manner hereinbefore described.

Another modification of the invention is shown in Figs. 12 to 16,inclusive, and in this form of the invention the two clamp-supportingarms 14 and. 19 are formed as integral parts of the frame or body 69 ofthe clamp which, in turn, is preferably formed of a pair of relativelylight structural elements and 1|, such as metal stampings or the like,which are fastened together by suitable fastening elements such as therivets 12.

In this form of the invention the two clampsupporting arms 14 and 19extend substantially or in general parallel to each other and thestructural parts or elements 10 and 1| of the clampsupporting arms 14are integrally joined and shaped to provide a substantially cylindricalguide sleeve 15, which. is similar to the guide sleeve 54.

The guide sleeve 15, like the guide sleeve 54, is internally threadedand a clamping screw 16 is threaded therethrough. This clamping screw 16is provided at one end with a knurled hand knob 18 and at its other endthe clamping screw 16 carries a clamping jaw |04 which may be swivellyor otherwise mounted upon the clamping screw 16.

A knurled clamping nut 11 is threaded onto the clamping screw 16 betweenthe guide sleeve and the knurled hand knob 18.

A hand lever 80 is pivotally mounted upon the clamp-supporting arm 15,as at 8|, and between the structural elements or parts 10 and 1| of theclamp-supporting arm 19. The lever 80 has a cam or nose portion 82 andthis cam or nose portion 82 of the hand lever 80 is engageable with :f

one surface of a resilient clamping member 85 which is preferably formedof a piece of resilient flat metal spring stock slightly curved, asshown in Figs. 12, 15 and 16. 'I'he resilient clamping member 85 is`provided at one end with a pair of laterally extending ears 84 andthese ears 84 project into openings 83 which are provided in thestructural elements 10 and 1| of the clamp, and are inserted thereinprior to the time the structural elements 10 and 1| are riveted orotherwise fastened together, as at 12. In this manner4 the resilientclamping member 85 is pivotally mounted upon and relative to theclampsupporting arm.

As shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 16, the body of the clamp 69 is providedwith a handle or thumb rest portion 'I3 which is formed as an integralextension of the 'structural elements 10 and 1| which are, as shown inFig. 13, preferably bent outwardly relative to each other so as toafford a relatively wide thumb rest when using this form of the newclamp, as will be explained presently.

The use and operation of the form of the new clamp shown in Figs. 12 to16, inclusive, of the drawings, are as follows: The clamping jaw |04 maybe positioned in engagement with one side of the work 86 by manipulatingthe hand knob 18 of the clamping screw 16, whereupon the clamping nut 11may be adjusted into engagement with the guide sleeve 15. The hand levermay then be pivoted from its normal or ineffective position, as in Fig.16, into effective or clamping position as in Fig. 12. This may beaccomplished by placing the thumb upon the thumb rest portion 13 andgrasping the hand lever 80 with the same hand.

When the hand lever 80 is thus moved from its normal or ineffectiveposition, as in Fig. 16, into effective or clamping position as in Fig.l2, the nose or cam portion 82 thereof bears or cams against one surfaceof the resilient clamping member 85 and urges the latter into clampingengagement with the work 86 at the side there of which is opposite theclamping jaw |06.

It will be noted, in this connection, that when the resilient clampingmember 85 is in effective or clamping position it provides a relativelylarge bearing or clamping surface which is more effective than therelatively small clamping. surface of the nose or cam portion 82 of thelever 80 would be if it engaged directly with the work inasmuch as therewould be a tendency for such a relatively small cam surface as might beafforded by the nose or cam portion 82 of the lever 80 to slip. relativeto the work or to permit the work to slip relative thereto.

In order to release the parts of the form of the new clamp shown inFigs. l2 to 16, inclusive, it is merely necessary to manipulate theclamping lever 80 from effective or clamping position in which it isshown in Fig. 12 into neffective position in which it is shown in Fig.16, wthout changing the adjustment of the clamping screw 16 and itsclamping jaw |04 upon or relative to the clamp-supporting arm 1d.

A modified construction of one part of the form of the invention whichis shown in Figs. 12 to 16, inclusive, is illustrated in Figs. 17 and18. This modification is substantially similar to the form of theinvention which is illustrated in Figs. l2 to 16, inclusive, and partsthereof which correspond to parts in the form of the invention which areshown in Figs. l2 to 16, inclusive, have been given the same referencenumerals followed by the additional reference character a.

In the form of the invention which is shown in Figs. 17 and 18, internalthreads are omitted from the guide sleeve for the clamping screw and theguide sleeve 15a is made somewhat larger, in diameter, than the guidesleeve 15 for the reception of an internally threaded flanged metallicbushing 81. This bushing 81 is inserted into the guide sleeve 15a, andmay be secured to the guide sleeve 15a in any suitable manner as bypeening one flange portion 88 thereof into a resultant indented portionof the guide sleeve 15a, as shown at 81 in Fig. 17. Except as thusdescribed, however, the modification which is lllustrated in Figs. 17and 18 is substantially similar in construction, use and operation tothe form of the invention which is illustrated in Figs. 12 to 16,inclusive, and hence need not be described in further detail.

It will be noted that in all of the several forms thereof which areillustrated in the drawings the pivoted clamp arm and the clamping jawcarried or controlled thereby, may be manipulated into and out ofeffective or clamping position relative to and without disturbing theposition or adjustment of the other clamp arm and the clamping screw andclamping jaw carried thereby. This enables the operator or user of thenew clamp to manipulate the same and to shift the clamp upon or relativeto the work with and by the use of only one hand, leaving the other handfree for necessary work.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered inconjunction with the ac'- companying drawings, that the presentinvention provides a new and improved clamping de vice and accomplishesits intended objects and has the desirable advantages andcharacteristics including those hereinbefore pointed out and otherswhich are inherent in the invention.

While I have illustratedand described selected embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variationand modification and I therefore do not Wish to be limited to theprecise details set forth but de sire to avail myself of such changesand alterations as fall within the purview of the following,-

claims.

I claim:

l. A clamp comprising a pair ofI cooperatingy jaw-supporting arms, oneof which arms is substantially L-shaped and each formed of separate andrelatively light and flat structural elements,

a clamping jaw carried by each of said jaw-supporting arms, the other ofsaid jaw-supporting arms being pivotally mounted substantially midwaybetween its ends upon the substantially L- shaped jaw-supporting arm,means for pivotally mounting said other jaw-supporting arm at differenttimes in various positions upon and relative to said one jaw-supportingarm, the structural elements forming said pivotally mountedjaw-supporting arm including portions spaced from each other, a portionof said substantially L-shaped jaw-supporting arm being disposed betweenthe spaced portions of said pivotally mounted jaw-supporting arm, saidmeans for pivotally mounting said other jaw-supporting arm in variouspositions including a plurality of spaced apertures formed in saidsubstantially L-shaped jaw-supporting arm and a pair of alignedapertures formed in the said spaced structural ele- `ments of saidpivotally mounted jaw-supporting 'out ofclamping engagement with anobject disposed therebetween.

2. A clamp comprising cooperating substantially L-shaped jaw-supportingarms, clamping means carried by each jaw-supporting arm at ,opposed endsthereof and the other ends there-` of being free, the said arms beingadjustably` pivotally connected together substantially medially of theirrespective ends and such pivotal connection effecting an overlappingrelationship of the arms intermediate their free ends, a movi able leverhaving a camming surface for engagement with one of the arms and toeffect movement of the other arm, said lever being pivot- Vallyconnected to the free end of one of the arms and overlapping a portionthereof when clamping work and having a portion in non-overlappingrelationship with said last mentioned arm which permitsreadymanipulation of the said lever toeither clamp or unclamp work, thesaid adjustable pivotal connection of the two jaw-supporting` armsconsisting of a plurality of spaced apertures `formed in one of the armsand an aperture formed in the other arm, the said apertures in each armbeing selectively registrable with each other, and a pivot pinselectively insertible into the registered apertures.

ANTHONY M. SASGEN.-

